Favorite Emerges To Win NCAA DI Men’s Indoor Team Title

NEW ORLEANS — If the Pre-Championship Edition of the NCAA Division I Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings are any indication, Oregon’s reign atop the podium is about to come to an end.

The Ducks have won each of the past three NCAA team titles and are looking to become the second team in history to win four in a row (Arkansas did so four times over, winning 12 in a row from 1984 to 1995 and another four from 1997 to 2000).

Florida stands in Oregon’s way, however, as Mike Holloway’s team is ranked No. 1 once again. The Gators have been No. 1 throughout the season and remained there in the most recent ranking released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The biggest difference in these rankings – compared to those the rest of the indoor season – is that only entries from athletes competing this weekend in College Station, Texas are taken into account.

Florida is one of three teams to crack the 100-point barrier in these rankings. Joining the 167.95-point Gators are the second-ranked Razorbacks (121.23 points) and the aforementioned Ducks (ranked 3rd with 113.78 points). And wouldn’t you know that Arkansas, Florida and Oregon have the most tickets punched to NCAAs with 12, 11 and 10, respectively?

For the Gators to win their fourth indoor title since 2010, they’ll need to rely heavily upon its sprinters/hurdlers and jumpers. Florida has eight combined entries in those disciplines, led by a total of six from junior KeAndre Bates (long jump, triple jump) as well as standout freshmen Clayton Brown (high jump, triple jump) and Grant Holloway (60 hurdles, long jump).

The Razorbacks are in the same boat as the Gators as they have nine combined entries in the sprints/hurdles and jumps. Arkansas’ top-ranked athlete in the sprints is Obi Igbokwe in the 400 (4th), while it has a top-ranked, defending national champion in the field in Clive Pullen (triple jump).

Stop us if you heard this before, but Oregon will go as far as Edward Cheserek takes them. Cheserek is entered in three events – mile, 3000, 5000 – and could provide the Ducks with 30 points there, which would obliterate the previous scoring record held by him and former Man of Oregon Galen Rupp (22.5) and move him into sole possession of 1st place in NCAA meet history.

Looking elsewhere in the Pre-Championship Edition, you’ll see Georgia and host Texas A&M round out the top-5 to give the SEC four teams in the final top-5.

Further down, Colorado State jumped four spots from Week 6 to Week 7. The Rams went from No. 12 to No. 8, their highest ranking in program history. Colorado State has a total of five entries, led by national leader Mostafa Hassan in the shot put and the 3rd ranked heptathlete in the field (Hunter Price).

UTEP continued its rise in the rankings as it goes from No. 17 to No. 14.

Oklahoma State and Auburn each moved up two spots from Week 6 as the former went from No. 25 to No. 23 and the latter from No. 27 to No. 25.

Be sure to check back throughout the week on USTFCCCA.org as we bring you plenty of coverage and previews of the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held March 10-11 in College Station, Texas.